Funeral Service - Mulberry Publications

uneral
S ervice times
The independent voice of the funeral profession APRIL 2014
Established 2006 ∙ ISSN 2046-7273
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk
COFFIN
SPECIAL
Our selection of the most
trusted and innovative suppliers
American
Military Funerals
An exploration of the US
government’s special approach
Alex James:
Keeping solemnity in the
list of funeral options
George Callander:
Reflections on the
importance of coffin choice
Peter Wyllie:
Eric Idle’s witty tribute
to George Harrison

3
APRIL 2014
CONTENTS
Dispatches 5
The latest news from the profession
Products 8
New products and services for the trade
Comment 10
The BIFD’s president, Sally Walton, holds forth
Peter Wyllie 12
This month Peter Wyllie revisits Eric Idle’s
tribute to his friend George Harrison
Rev George Callander 18
Reverend George Callander riffs on the coffin
theme with his usual humorous take
Coffin Special 23
We present a definitive list of the foremost manufacturers
and suppliers of coffins and caskets in the UK
Coffins Special: Accessory Spotlight 29
Two firms offering the added extras for a quality coffin
and quality service
Editor’s
letter
Dear readers,
April brings my series on the funeral customs
from a range of different cultures to a close. In
a slight change of focus, it’s the nuances of an
American military funeral that I’ve examined
for this last entry. It was only in 2000 that
the US government decided to pledge some
funding and implement a formal procedure
for the bereaved families of deceased veterans
or those killed in action, including the right to
request military honours at the funeral. Now
it is common practice to have a bugler, honour
guards carrying the deceased to their final
resting place, and a priest all in attendance, the
bill footed by the state.
Those responsible for the policy also conceived
the notion that there should be a toll-free phone
number for families to call, and that the single
operative who dealt with the phone call would
be responsible for pursuing the request through
to its final conclusion. It is a truly dignified way
of honouring those who have died and sends a
mature message to the people.
The draped stars-and-stripes on the coffins
set us thinking about what options are available
in this particular purchase area, and this issue
we’ve picked out some of the most innovative
and interesting suppliers of coffins, caskets
and all of the kit that a funeral director needs
in carrying out the job. Finally, Alex James
points out that whilst the chirpier ‘celebration
of life’ is growing in popularity, the profession
must be sure to cater for families that still
want a traditional, deeply solemn affair.
Coffin Special: Biers, Lifts & Trolleys
Not many can lift a coffin without mechanical
assistance: here are the essentials
31
I hope you enjoy the issue.
American Military Funerals 38
Michael Northcott examines the nuances of a military
honours funeral in the United States
Comment: Alex James
Bereavement UK’s Alex James on why traditional solemnity
should not always roll over for ‘celebratory’ antics
46
Obituaries 50
A tribute to some well-known names that have passed away recently
Your Story 58
Joanne Hutsby, The Eastwood Funeral Partnership, Nottingham
Michael Northcott MA
Editor, Funeral Service Times
michael@funeralservicetimes.co.uk

DISPATCHES 5
F uneral S ervice times
Established 2006
Editor
Michael Northcott
michael@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Editorial Assistant
Lauren Morton
laurenmorton@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Production Assistant
Maddi Mears
copy@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Senior Account Managers
Lauren Munson
lauren@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Suzanne Smith
suzanne@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Accounts
Maureen Scrivener
accounts@funeralservicetimes.co.uk
Customer Services
01206 767 797
customers@mulberrypublications.co.uk
Contributing writers:
Peter Wyllie, Rev George Callander,
Sally Walton, Alex James
Funeral Service Times
is published monthly by:
Mulberry Publications Ltd.
Colchester Office:
Wellington House, Butt Road,
Colchester CO3 3DA
Tel: 01206 767 797
Fax: 01206 767 532
London Office:
14 Rosebery Avenue,
London EC1R 4TD
Tel: 020 7520 7066
www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk
ISSN 2046-7273
The editor and publishers do not guarantee the
accuracy of statements made by contributors
or advertisers, or accept responsibility for any
statement that they express in this publication.
The opinion of the contributors may not
necessarily be the opinion of the publishers.
Articles are considered for publication on the
basis that they are the author’s original work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying or otherwise, without the
permission of the publishers.
A B Walker hosts 2nd annual
service of remembrance
Berkshire-based funeral directors A.B.
Walker & Son held its second annual
service of remembrance on March 2.
The service saw over 500 bereaved
people come together at Reading
Construction of a new crematorium and
cemetery serving residents in Daventry
District and Rugby Borough has been
completed.
Contractor Willmott Dixon handed
over the keys to Rugby and Daventry’s
new crematorium and cemetery,
which is located on the edge of the
Rainsbrook Valley in Rugby, ready for
its opening in April.
The keys were given to the Rugby
and Daventry Joint Committee,
which will run the crematorium
on behalf of Rugby Borough
Council and Daventry
District Council, who split the
construction costs between
them. It marked the end of the
construction phase of the project,
which began last May, and the
councils are now preparing the
facility, ready to open for the first
services in April.
Chancellor Alan Hills,
Minster of St Mary the Virgin in St
Mary’s Butts to light candles in memory
of loved ones. The service was officiated
by the Venerable Olivia Graham,
Archdeacon of Berkshire.
Julian Walker, managing director of
A.B. Walker, said: “It was a very moving
service and we hope that those who
attended found comfort from being
there. It was a chance for those who had
lost a loved one to be with others who
had also suffered bereavement.
“It was a time for them to pause and
reflect. We realise there is a great need
for people to collectively remember.”
Having supported bereaved families
for nearly 200 years, A B Walker &
Son decided upon the yearly event after
the first event in 2013 received such
a positive response. The company has
also set up a Link Bereavement Care
Group alongside the charity Cruse
Bereavement Care to help the bereaved
in the community.
Councils given keys to
Rainsbrook Crematorium
community, culture and leisure
portfolio holder at Daventry District
Council said: “The completion of this
crematorium is great news for residents
of Daventry District, who currently have
to travel as far as Northampton and
Banbury for similar facilities.
“As well as being near at hand it
provides a very peaceful and tranquil
setting in a modern, state-of-the-art
crematorium which will benefit the
residents of both Daventry and Rugby.”

6
DISPATCHES
New ‘Guide to Coroner Services’ aimed at
the bereaved
The bereaved will be put “at the heart of the coroner system”,
Justice Minister Simon Hughes has announced, with the
launch of a new guide for people who have to become
involved with inquests.
The new ‘Guide to Coroner Services’ explains in simple
terms to bereaved people how the inquest process works,
what they should expect, what standards of service they
should receive, how to find help and what to do if they
were not satisfied by the service.The guide is the latest stage
of government’s drive to modernise the coroner system
and make sure that bereaved families can receive the same
standards of service from all 96 coroners in England and
Wales, bringing an end to past inconsistencies.
It follows the introduction last year of new national
standards and the appointment of the first ever Chief
Coroner, Judge Peter Thornton QC, to oversee the new
system and drive improvement.
Launching the guide, Justice Minister Simon Hughes
said: “I want people to know that coroners’ courts needn’t
be scary places, they can be open and welcoming, and that
is why we are making absolutely sure that the needs of
bereaved families are put first and foremost.”
The guide follows the new coroner rules implemented
last year, which mean that coroners will be required to
notify those who are bereaved within a week of setting
the date for the inquest and provide greater access to
documents and evidence, such as post-mortem reports,
before the inquest takes place, to enable bereaved families
to prepare for the hearing.
They must also be able to speed up the release of bodies
after post mortem and will be required to notify the
deceased’s next-of-kin or personal representative if the
body cannot be released within 28 days, and permit less
invasive post-mortem examinations.
Birmingham’s largest cemetery ‘full to capacity’
Photo: oosoom
Birmingham’s Witton Cemetery has revealed that it is ‘full to
capacity’ and cannot serve any more clients, leaving families in
the north of Birmingham to find alternative burial locations.
The cemetery has been unable to take on new graves since
late 2013 and a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said:
“Witton Cemetery became full to capacity for new adult graves
in December 2013.
“Burials will continue to take place in Witton Cemetery
where families have an existing grave that has space for burial.
There are still new graves available for the burial of babies and
cremated remains.”
The council has been advising local funeral directors of the
impending closure, ensuring that they are kept abreast of the
situation. The spokesperson added: “Space is still available for
new adult graves at Sutton New Hall, Handsworth, Lodge
Hill, Quinton and Kings Norton Cemeteries.”

DISPATCHES 7
Three Minute Interview
CHERYL YARWOOD, owner of Secure Haven
Describe yourself
in three words
Honest, caring, busy.
What is your earliest
memory
Winning fancy dress competitions at Pontins
- my nan and mum were great seamstresses,
even with crepe paper.
When you were at
school, what did you
want to be and why
In primary school, a long distance lorry
driver...No idea why!
What was the first music
album you bought
The Bay City Rollers...I was very young and
impressionable.
If you could have dinner
with one person, who would
you choose and why
Gordon Ramsey, he could cook and talk, I
could sit on the other side of the granite top
and have a night off.
What is the best advice you
have been given
We can’t help everyone, but everyone
can help someone (Ronald Reagan).
What is your next
goal in life
To make a success of Secure Haven, helping
people deal with their grief after losing a
loved one.
What is your personal
mantra
Don’t believe the naysayers... ‘You can’t do
that!’ and I say ‘why not try’
As a new face in the funeral
sector, tell us about Secure
Haven
Paul and I set up Secure Haven to help the
recently bereaved cope with the emotional
trauma following a cremation. We collect
from funeral directors and store treasured
ashes if they cannot care for them and
families need more time before they fulfil
any final wishes. At our barn in Margaretting
we store urns of ashes in ‘Secure Niches’ –
custom-build wooden storage cabinets – with
Image: The Essex Chronicle
respect and sensitivity, for as long as needed.
Family and friends are welcome to visit.
What are your plans for
the rest of the year
We are spending all our time working
with the Secure Haven team to get the
business established.
What is the most
important thing your
job has taught you
That nothing can be achieved without
hard work.
Multiple charity
donations
introduced by
MuchLoved
Increasingly, funeral directors have
been finding that families want to
nominate more than one charity for
their funeral collection, for example
both a local hospice and a large
national charity.
MuchLoved has announced that
its online tribute service can now
be used to collect donations for any
number of charities on any tribute,
without limit. An additional enhanced
‘Charity Search’ makes it effortless
to add charities and to include
instructions, such as a requirement for
the donations to be used for a specific
appeal or branch of the charity.
Monthly provisional figures on deaths registered
by area of usual residence, 2013
Source: ONS
England and Wales
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS
ENGLAND AND WALES
ENGLAND
North East
North West
Yorkshire and the Humber
East Midlands
West Midlands
East
London
South East
South West
WALES
Non-residents of England & Wales
Dec-13
42,791
42,705
39,973
2,154
5,837
4,372
3,588
4,415
4,426
3,958
6,577
4,646
2,732
84
Jan-14
49,030
48,920
45,931
2,557
6,612
4,820
4,089
5,243
5,194
4,548
7,685
5,183
2,989
109
Feb-14
41,153
41,066
38,518
2,192
5,722
3,974
3,482
4,267
4,439
3,830
6,261
4,351
2,548
85

8
PRODUCTS
Cemetery Development Services
Cemetery Development Services in conjunction with
Bosisio Srl, one of Italy’s longest established funeral furniture
manufacturers, have jointly developed the Cinerarium.
The development came from the requests of a number of
crematoriums and funeral directors asking for a discreet and
attractive method of memorialising cremated remains. Unlike
the traditional columbarium the slim design - less than 110mm
in thickness - and lightweight construction materials of the
cinerarium enable it to be mounted on most walls indoors
or outside. The cinerarium comes in two forms, either an
aluminium frame or a modular fiberglass system. Both systems
provide sufficient volume for one set of ashes per niche.
Information: www.cemeterydevelopmentservices.co.uk
Strong’s Memorials’
Long established memorial masons, Strong’s Memorials’ new
‘Plantmems’ are the company’s answer to the current economic
climate, a quality product that is cost effective. Made from
agglomerate and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the
Plantmems house the standard polycontainers without the cost of
a full traditional memorial. The firm explains: “Our Plantmems
are proving to be a very popular alternative to standard urns and
include a granite plaque which can be inscribed giving it a very
personal touch.”
Information: 01922 496117, moreinfo@strongmemorials.com or
www.strongsmemorials.com
Redwood Collections
Redwood Collections offers a comprehensive service, from
a gentle written reminder to proactive collection routines
(including insolvency) if required. The company’s highly
experienced account managers are there to advise and offer
alternatives to the often ineffective, slow and costly process of
taking county court action. With its unique ‘no collection, no
commission’ debt collection service, Redwood Collections prides
itself on its proactive communication with the debtor, which
often leads to a swift resolution without recourse to legal action.
Information: 0208 288 3555 or www.redwoodcollections.com
O’Brien Carriage Masters
O’Brien Carriage Masters caters to England, Scotland and
Wales as well as parts of Ireland, providing its fleet of white,
silver and black limousines and hearses to funeral directors,
normally being able to accommodate clients on short notice as
well. Offering a service that can include a range of everything
such as removers, suppliers and conductors, paired with its
limousines and hearses, O’Brien Carriage Masters has 35 years
of experience under its belt. The company looks forward to
any enquiries and building lasting relationships with funeral
directors in the UK.
Information: 0208 311 9591 or obriencars@ntlworld.com

M a n u
fa c t u rers a nd
s u p p l i e r s o
f q u a l i t y f i t t i n g s a n d l i n i n g s t o t h e d i s c e r ning Funer a l D i r e c t o r
Celebrating 30 Years
30% off all our stock pins
and staples on orders
placed during April
For further information see our website
www.allsops.net
or call us on 01903 213991
or email info@allsops.net
Are you still caring for
ashes dating back years
Even following a cremation, there are still difficult choices to
be made by bereaved families – many funeral directors will
discover relatives are simply not emotionally ready to deal
with their loved one’s ashes.
Secure Haven can support the bereaved by taking care of
ashes, allowing more time for these difficult decisions over
a permanent resting place to be made – free from anxiety.
We can arrange for ashes to be collected and interred into
private secure niches, storing them with dignity and respect,
at our specially-adapted historic barn near Chelmsford, Essex.
We will work closely with funeral directors and can provide
a bespoke service delivered with discretion and sensitivity.
Please contact our support team to arrange a private visit.
01277 353776
www.securehaven.co.uk
SecureHavenApril.indd 1 25/03/2014 13:46

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PETER WYLLIE: EULOGIES 11
‘Life is somehow
more important
than show business’

12
PETER WYLLIE: EULOGIES
Image: Sander Lamme
George Harrison was
just 27 when the Beatles
broke up, meaning he
had it all before he
turned 30. This left him
free to pursue meaning
in his own life, and
here, PETER WYLLIE
revisits Eric Idle’s tribute
to a man of real depth
He was part of the soundtrack of
my teenage years. Along with John
Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr,
George Harrison was part of the most
famous band in history and there is no
doubt that the Beatles changed the course
of popular music forever.
In November 2001 (can it really be
almost 13 years ago), George was the
second Beatle to die after John had been
shot 21 years before.
It was the following year, 2002, that
the Hollywood Bowl inducted George
Harrison into their hall of fame. His
friend Eric Idle of Monty Python fame
was invited to make the induction.
I suppose this is not strictly a “eulogy”
but it is the perfect tribute; combining
warmth and humour and showing
flashes of both George’s personality and
underlying beliefs.
Interestingly at a time when funeral
services increasingly use audio-visual
elements, this tribute contained a video
montage and a live performance of one of
George’s songs.
ERIC IDLE:
“When they told me they were going
to induct my friend George Harrison
into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame
posthumously: my first thought was - I bet
he won’t show up.
Because, unlike some others one might
mention - but won’t - he really wasn’t in to
honours.
He was one of those odd people who
believe that life is somehow more important
than show business.
Which I know is a heresy here in
Hollywood, and I’m sorry to bring it up here
in the very Bowel of Hollywood but I can
hear his voice saying: “Oh very nice, very
useful, a posthumous award - where am I
supposed to put it What’s next for me then
A posthumous Grammy An ex-Knighthood
An After-Lifetime Achievement Award”
He’s going to need a whole new shelf up
there.
So “posthumously inducted” - sounds
rather unpleasant: sounds like some kind of
after-life enema.
But ‘induct’ - in case you are wondering
- comes from the word induce - meaning to
bring on labour by the use of drugs.
And ‘posthumous’ is actually from the Latin
post meaning after and hummus meaning
Greek food.
So I like to think that George is still out
there somewhere - pregnant and breaking
plates at a Greek restaurant.
I think he would prefer to be inducted
posthumorously because he loved comedians -
poor, sick, sad, deranged, lovable puppies that
we are, because they, like him, had the ability
to say the wrong thing at the right time -
which is what we call humour.
He put Monty Python on here at The
Hollywood Bowl, and he paid for the movie
The Life of Brian, because he wanted to see it.
Still the most anybody has ever paid for a
cinema ticket.
His life was filled with laughter and even
his death was filled with laughter… In the
hospital he asked the nurses to put fish and
chips in his IV.
The doctor - thinking he was delusional
- said to his son “don’t worry; we have a
medical name for this condition.”
“Yes” said Dahni, “humour”.
And I’m particularly sorry Dahni isn’t
here tonight - because I wanted to introduce
him by saying: “Here comes the son”. But
sadly that opportunity for a truly bad joke
has gone, as has Dahni’s Christmas present
from me.
George once said to me: “If we’d known
we were going to be The Beatles we’d have
tried harder.”
What made George special - apart from
his being the best guitarist in the Beatles
- was what he did with his life after they
achieved everything.
He realized that this fame business was -
and I’ll use the technical philosophical term
here - complete bullshit.
And he turned to find beauty and
truth and meaning in life - and more
extraordinarily - found it.
This is from his book I Me Mine:
“The things that most people are
struggling for are fame or fortune or wealth
or position - and really none of that is
important because in the end death will take
it all away. So you spend your life struggling
for something, which is in effect a waste of
time… I mean I don’t want to be lying there
as I’m dying thinking ‘oh shit I forgot to put
the cat out’.”
And he wasn’t. He passed away - here in
LA - with beauty and dignity surrounded by
people he loved.
Because he had an extraordinary capacity
for friendship.
People loved him all over the planet.
George was in fact a moral philosopher:
his life was all about a search for truth, and
preparing himself for death.
Which is a bit weird for someone in rock
and roll. They’re not supposed to be that
smart. They’re supposed to be out there
looking for Sharon. Not the meaning of life.
Michael Palin said George’s passing was
really sad but it does make the afterlife seem
much more attractive.
He was a gardener - he grew beauty in

14
PETER WYLLIE: EULOGIES
“He realised that this fame business was - and I’ll use the technical philosophical term
here - complete bullshit. And he turned to find beauty and truth and meaning in life
- and more extraordinarily - found it.”
everything he did - in his life, in his music,
in his marriage and as a father.
I was on an island somewhere when a
man came up to him and said “George
Harrison, oh my god, what are you doing
here” - and he said “Well everyone’s got to
be somewhere.”
Well alas he isn’t here. But we are. And
that’s the point. This isn’t for him. This is
for us, because we want to honour him.
We want to remember him, we want to say
Thanks George for being. And we really miss
you. So let’s take a look at some of the places
he got to in his life.
(Video montage is shown of George
Harrison’s life, from youthful Beatle to
mature solo artist.)
Well he’s still not here. But we do have
someone very special who was very dear to him
- who is here. The fi rst man to perform with
the Beatles. The one and only Billy Preston.
(Billy Preston and a chorus of vocalists
sing Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.”)
Thank you Billy Preston.
So this is the big drag about posthumous
awards: there’s no one to give ‘em to.
So I’m gonna keep this and put it next
to the one I got last year. No, I’m going to
give it to the love of his life, his dark sweet
lady, dear wonderful Olivia Harrison, who
is with us here tonight. Liv, you truly know
what it is to be without him.
Thank you Hollywood Bowl, you do good
to honour him. Goodnight.”
You see That is an almost perfect
tribute and whether you were a Beatles
or a Stones person, one thing is without
doubt; it will be a long time before
George Harrison’s influence is forgotten
and his memory lost.
Peter Wyllie is
an independent
funeral celebrant
and a member of
the AOIC. For
more information
please visit
www.silverdove.org.uk or www.
independentcelebrants.com

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16
GEORGE CALLANDER
Photos, wool,
polished oak
or stone
The coffin is a major signifier of the character of the deceased: opulence, comfort,
smartness, dignity or glamour - you can conjure any of these with the right choice,
says the REVEREND GEORGE CALLANDER
Having finally dragged my old carcass
into the 21st Century and embraced
some of the now-ubiquitous technology, I
am now a devoted ‘tweeter’ and enjoy many
splendid exchanges @FrDoddie. Do feel free
to ‘follow’ me. In a recent tweet exchange I
was sent the old saying: “It’s not the cough
what carries you off; it’s the coffin they
carries you off in!”
Hackneyed, I know, but nevertheless true.
There is much about coffins to be found
throughout this month’s edition of FST and
rightly so. The coffin (or coffin alternative) is
the most focal feature of a funeral, so has to
be appropriate. A plethora of column inches
and glossy brochures tastefully present colour
photographs of coffins and caskets in all
shapes, sizes, colours and finishes. Many are
traditional in design and construction with
an increasing number of bespoke creations of
great quality, style and beauty.
In recent months I have seen a couple
of stunning coffins of such superb
craftsmanship it seemed a shame to bid them
farewell at the committal! How many times
have we heard folks say they want no fuss for
their funeral and would prefer to be placed
in a bin bag They are most disgruntled to
be told this is not possible because of (apart
from anything else) cremation emissions
from the bin bag. Others, too, believe
a cardboard coffin to be the easiest and
cheapest solution for their farewell journey.
And as we know, this is not always the case.
So, what then do we as consumers or
professionals alike, expect from our coffin
or casket Well, setting aside its principal
function to securely contain a dead body
prior to burial or cremation, a coffin should
be aesthetically pleasing; well designed
and no matter how cheap, appropriately
constructed. No one wants to see bits falling
off at the crem, or the bottom fall out at the
worst possible moment. Fortunately I have
not (as yet) seen this happen; but on more
than one occasion my heart has jumped into
my mouth!
The material of which the coffin is
constructed is also very important. Think for
a moment of the lovely woolly coffins now
widely available. They convey (even to this
flinty old heart) a real sense of nurturing,
of protection and even comfort. They are
very tactile, too, which is so important for
bereaved people. Whenever I see one of these
woolly coffins I instinctively stroke it and
think, “awwwww, isn’t that nice!” Which it
is. A solid wood coffin, beautifully carved,
furnished and polished coffin gives a real
sense of grandeur and opulence. An aesthetic
equally achievable with some of the better
models of laminate coffin. Likewise bamboo
coffins, pods and wicker caskets are beautiful
things, conveying a softer, more natural
impression.
I appreciate families can have what they
want. As I say time and again, that is a
very good thing: some want the all singing
and all dancing solid oak sideboard-esque
craftsman-built coffin, embellished with
solid brass handles, crosses and so on, fully
lined in beautiful oyster satin. Others want
plain simplicity and dignity. Some clients
want a truly unique and personalised coffin
for their unique loved one’s final journey,
and choose a coffin adorned with photos
or images. I think there is something very
special about sitting down with a family
to select a special design or put together a
design from a collection of photographs,
texts or images which adequately sum up the
life ended. Making the personalised coffin a
central feature of the farewell ceremony can
truly benefit the bereaved.
Although they are popular, I still cannot
decide whether or not I like cardboard
coffins (of the plainer type). I find them
rather stark and utilitarian. Why is this I
don’t know. Perhaps it’s because I’m from
a generation still used to a coffin looking
like a coffin. Although having said this I
have seen cardboard coffins covered by batik
cloth throws, and more traditional wooden
coffin covers. One of my FD friends (alas, no
longer trading) commissioned a textile artist
to create a fantastic patchwork cover for
cardboard coffins. This bright, cheerful and
reusable object made from multi-coloured
pieces of recycled fabric proved very popular.
I christened it the ‘Coffin-Cosy’.
It was tactile and cheerful, but never
disguised the reality that beneath it, was the
coffin of a much-loved person. The Coffin-
Cosy was, to my mind, a contemporary take
on the age-old custom of draping a coffin
with a pall: the large, heavy drape completely
covering the coffin. Often purple, coffin palls
were decorated with religious or regimental
symbols. One of the most beautiful I have
seen was midnight blue velvet, decorated
with lots of gold and silver applique stars.
The ancient custom of draping coffins with
flags and standards (think royal, state or
military funerals) remains popular. Like
every other aspect of funeral custom, it has
evolved to include coffin drapes in football
club colours and team emblems. Nothing
in our profession remains unchanged for
long: the wheel of custom and fashion
never stops turning.
Mind you, in recent weeks I have been
hunched in front of the Chapel House telly,
mug of coffee in hand, a plate of biccies at

GEORGE CALLANDER 17
Photo: Tom Oates
my side, watching the History Channel’s
current series of “Grave Trade”, featuring
the work of Thomas Cribb & Sons - a firm
akin to funeral directing royalty for many
East London families. What I enjoy most
about this series is seeing how a big and
busy firm operates. For some reason each
episode is interspersed with footage from a
funerary archaeological dig. Last week the
archaeologists were plying their trade in
the grounds of a now-demolished hospital
where I once plied mine. This week they had
unearthed a huge mediaeval stone coffin in
the grounds of Lincoln Castle.
Although interesting to watch, perhaps
it is just as well stone coffins are rather out
of fashion these days. I hate to think what
it would do to the backs of Darren, Jimmy,
Chris, Colin, Jeff, Iain, Paul and the many,
many other underbearers up and down the
land if they had to lug about stone coffins.
Not to mention the suspension on the
hearse! In the past, stone coffins were de
rigeur for the great and the good of society.
Abbots, Kings, Princes, Nobles and Bishops
were laid in their stone coffin, often sealed
by an elaborately carved stone lid. Examples
of these are easy to spot at many a cathedral
or historical site around the land. I expect
being a hessian-wearing peasant, I would
have been turfed into a simple grave: there
not being enough stone in the quarry to
enrobe this body!
The beauty and artistry of many stone
coffins has survived the centuries and still
tell us their story today. Visit any catacombs
or mausoleum and one can see coffins
stretching back the generations, telling
us their story, too: allowing us to see the
evolution of funeral customs and fashions
down the years. Many of the modern coffins
and caskets we see in the course of our
work are of such a solid construction and
quality, they too, will tell their story to future
generations of funerary historians.
Similarly, with the increase in cremation,
many more coffins and caskets of all
shapes, sizes and materials are transient.
I am a great supporter of the wide range
of coffins, caskets, pods and shrouds
available to us and our clients. I agree the
appearance of the coffin is very important
in the grieving process. Likewise, the
quality of the service we all provide our
clients. However, I never forget the most
important aspect of every funeral process
is the dignity shown to the deceased, and
the consideration and compassion given to
the bereaved people who mourn. This is -
without question - essential.
Now, all this talk of coffins hasn’t helped
me. I still can’t decide in which kind of coffin
I want to make my final journey. What about
a stone coffin No, too expensive and a bit
over the top. What about a solid oak beauty,
furnished with the finest brash handles and
accoutrements No, still too expensive. I am
after all an Aberdonian! I think I have the
solution: what about a stone-effect photo
coffin, draped with a ‘Coffin Cosy’ made
from my trademark fuschia-coloured socks
Surely, this is perfection’s own self More
than that, it will provide a conundrum
for any funerary archaeologist in future
centuries, busy howking up my bones.
The Rev George Callander FRSA is senior minister of the liberal
Christian UK Open Free Church, president of the Society
of Bereavement Practitioners, and a bereavement specialist
practitioner, speaker and trainer. Please visit www.gscallander.com
or www.socbp.org for more information.

Magical
memories
at a time
they’re
needed
the most
You know just how important having happy
memories to look back on can be to bereaved
families.
At Make-A-Wish Foundation ® UK we give children who
may never grow up magical memories they and their
family can treasure forever.
And you can help the families you work with
remember their own loved ones. Making In
Memoriam donations to Make-A-Wish is a
wonderful way to mark the life of a loved one.
We speak to many families who have supported us
in this way. They tell us that they find comfort in the
thought that, at their time of sadness, they can bring
some much-needed happiness to others.
As well as collecting donations on your clients’
behalf, you may also like to support Make-A-Wish
as a company.
We work with companies of all sizes and our dedicated
team of fundraisers has experience of handling many
different sorts of partnership. We can help you to find
the most suitable way of working together.
However you get involved with Make-A-Wish, be it on
your clients’ behalf or as a company, your support will
make a big difference. Help us provide memories
to last a lifetime.
For more information contact
Katy Pickering on 01276 40 50 53,
email katy.pickering@makeawish.org.uk
or visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk
Make-A-Wish Foundation UK • 329-331 London Road
• Camberley • Surrey GU15 3HQ
Charity Registration Nos. (England & Wales) 295672 / (Scotland) SC037479

20
COFFIN SPECIAL
Coffin Special
Manufacturers & Suppliers
PH COATE & SON
01823 490249, elizabeth@englishwillowbaskets.co.uk or
www.englishwillowcoffi ns.co.uk
What are your coffin/caskets made from and why
Our coffins our made from willow, a natural product which has the unique
ability to regenerate repeatedly from the same crown for over 30 years, and
provides an attractive and highly sustainable source of material to work with.
Willow coffins are suitable for burial, cremation and green burial sites and we
offer a range of shapes, colours and finishing details for customers to chose from.
How long have you been trading
PH Coate & Son has been working with willow on the Somerset Levels
since 1819. With great attention to detail, each one of our coffins is strongly
made using skills passed down through generations of the Coate family. The
Somerset levels is one of the most important wetland areas in the UK. The
unique landscape provides perfect conditions for growing willow.
What is interesting about your manufacturing methods
Each coffin is handcrafted to order so are made specifically for the person concerned. We use ‘randed’ weave which means they are woven one
strand of willow at a time which gives a really strong weave but with a ‘fine’ look. A ‘wale’ is found around the base of the coffin to add strength
and a border is made around the top of the coffin to give a good strong edge.The willow is plaited around the edge of the lid to give an artistic
touch to the overall look.
TRIBUTES
0845 388 8742 or www.tributes.ltd.uk
What new designs can we expect this year
Following our recent launches of Tribute Heart Keepsakes and Heart Tags our customers have come to expect plenty of new ideas from Tributes
and as always, we are working on a number of new products, but we don’t want to spoil any surprises, so watch this space.
What are your coffin/caskets made from and why
Our coffins are woven from natural willow and bamboo, with cotton calico linings, making them 100 per cent biodegradable. They have a
unique supporting structure, giving them exceptional strength and stability, setting them apart from our competitors and making them popular
with customers who previously may have been reluctant to change from traditional hardwood coffins.
How long have you be trading
Our company celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. We are a creative company
and have been responsible for the invention of a number of innovative products
for the funeral industry, including the Scatter Tube. We’re proud of our long
record of supplying superior quality products at competitive prices and our
excellent customer service.
What is interesting about your
manufacturing methods
We work from design to production, ensuring efficiency,
quality and fair trade, and listen closely to feedback from
customers. This helps us refine designs to reflect the needs of
funeral directors and families, resulting in products that are not
only beautiful and high quality, but easy and efficient to use.

Honouring
a life well-lived
WE NEVER FORGET A FAMILY HAS JUST LOST A LOVED ONE
When someone passes away, it’s not only essential
to remember the life, but to ensure its meaning lights
the way for those who are left behind. Helping families
through this process is what you do best.
NEW
Sanborn
And while families are leaning on you, you can depend
on Batesville. We understand that grief is a journey.
And we’re here to provide the products and services
your families need, at every step along the way.
Batesville Casket UK Ltd.
The Old Vicarage, Market Street,
Castle Donington, Derbyshire, DE74 2JB
Tel: 01332 856372 Fax: 01332 856377
www.batesville.co.uk
©2014 Batesville Services, Inc.

UNIQUELY PERSONAL - SENSITIVE INNOVATION
BESPOKE, PERSONALISED ASH CASKETS
Whether for solemn remembrance or dignified celebration, the Artiste range of
uniquely personal, engraved Ash Caskets, are now available throughout the UK,
from Steve Soult Limited.
Our modern, elegant ash caskets are now available with
a truly bespoke finish in any colour.
Whatever personal statement and date is desired,
we work with our customers to ensure their client’s
wishes are fulfilled.
£59 + £10 delivery + VAT
Despatched nationwide
within 48 hours
HANDMADE
IN THE UK
UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY
01623 721 123
www.stevesoult.com
Byron Avenue
Lowmoor Business Park
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Nottinghamshire NG17 7LA

COFFIN SPECIAL 23
THE SOMERSET WILLOW COMPANY
01278 424003, enquiries@somersetwillow.co.uk
or www.wickerwillowcoffi ns.co.uk
What new designs can we
expect this year
We launched our premium interior set in January of this year;
this consists of a cream frill that is hand stitched into our
willow coffins, along with a matching mattress and pillow
filled with natural hay.
What are your coffin/caskets
made from and why
Our coffin/caskets are made from willow that we grow near
our workshops here in Somerset, a fact which makes our
products extremely environmentally friendly and with a very
low carbon footprint.
How long have you been trading
The Somerset Willow Company is a fourth generation family
business and has been trading for 55 years this year.
What is interesting about your
manufacturing methods
We pride ourselves on the fact that our products are handwoven
here in Somerset, employing local people. Even the
growing and processing of our willow ready for weaving,
requires very little mechanical processing.
FTP Half Page ADVERT 2014.qxd:Layout 1 27/3/14 16:58 Page 1
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY COFFINS
Elegantly made by skilled craftsmen
Previously Fine Timber
Products Limited
Abaca
Water Hyacinth
Traditional
& Oval Shaped
Brown Willow
Bamboo
Traditional &
Oval Shaped
White Willow
NEW
UNIQUE
DESIGN
Oval
Shaped
Light Oak
Traditional &
Oval Shaped
Seagrass
Full range
of sizes
available
The Old Rectory Boraston Tenbury Wells Worcestershire WR15 8LH
Tel 01584 819981 Fax 01584 819483
admin@finetimberproducts.co.uk www.ftp-eco-coffins.co.uk

24
COFFIN SPECIAL
FTP ECOCOFFINS
01584 819981, admin@finetimberproducts.co.uk
or www.ftp-eco-coffi ns.co.uk
What new designs can we expect this year
At the end of March FTP Ecocoffins will be launching a new oval-shape oak veneer
coffin with load-bearing handles, constructed from FSC certified materials, using
reconstituted wood and formaldehyde-free wood adhesive. Three sizes will be available
initially: 5’8”, 6’ and 6’4”.
What are your coffins made from
The great majority of our coffins are woven from environmentally friendly materials such as wicker,
seagrass, water hyacinth, abaca and bamboo. This means that they not only fit our company’s eco credentials
but the coffins are also pleasing to the eye.
How long have you been trading
FTP Ecocoffins has been trading since 2001. Our company was formerly known as Fine Timber Products but we changed the name a few years
back to better reflect the nature of our business.
What is interesting about your manufacturing methods
All of our woven coffins obviously have to be made by hand, which helps to provide employment in poorer parts of the world. We manufacture our
new oak veneer coffin in house near Tenbury Wells, Worcs and it was an interesting challenge given the fact that it is oval shaped.
LT & R VOWLES
01684 592212 or www.ltrvowles.co.uk
What new designs can we expect this year
This year we are developing an exciting range of bespoke coffin showroom and
display furniture. However, we are always open to suggestions for new designs
from the funeral industry.
What are your coffin/caskets made from and why
We carefully source a wide range of traditional materials from solid hardwoods
to veneered fibre boards, as well as offering products in cardboard and natural
materials such as willow, and wool.
How long have you been trading
For 77 years – since 1937.
What is interesting about your manufacturing methods
Manufacturing methods are evolving all the time. Why not visit us at our new showroom facility for a guided factory tour, and see for yourself
GREENFIELD PRESTIGE
01440 788 866, info@greenfieldprestige.co.uk
or www.greenfieldprestige.co.uk
What new designs can we expect this year
Our Prestige cardboard coffins are going from strength to strength in
2014 with a unique style and design. The coffins are aesthetically pleasing,
in a range of colours and effects, such as wood grain and floral patterned.
What are your coffin/caskets made from and why
All the coffins are made from cardboard ink and corn starch glue, developed with a fully
biodegradable lining suite.
How long have you be trading
Greenfield Prestige was unveiled at the National Funeral Exhibition in June 2013 as a modern approach to the increased demand for
environmentally friendly coffins, however, Greenfield Creations has been trading since 1990, with more than 20 years of building cardboard coffins.
What is interesting about your manufacturing methods
The improved graphic printing technologies means that our coffins look almost identical to a real wooden coffin. They have the look but lots
more environmental benefits.

painted willow coffins
Tributes Ltd are delighted to announce that we
now offer painted willow coffins upon request.
Available in white for adult sizes and white,
pastel pink or blue for child & infant sizes.
TRIBUTES
...naturally
Our superior quality willow coffins
look lovely in white, which is
beautifully set off by their natural
rush-wrapped handles.
Beautifully suited to simple
floral tributes they can also be
accented with our Tribute Heart
Message Tags for individual
personal messages from the family.
Call our friendly customer care team
or see our website for more details.
Another reason to make your next woven coffin a Tributes coffin
t: 0845 388 8742 ◦ f: 0845 388 8743 ◦ e: info@tributes.ltd.uk
SJM_ads-2014.indd 15
3/20/2014 11:21:40 AM
Style
& quality
at an affordable price
Tel: 01278 588011 Fax: 01278 588 183 contact@naturalwovenproducts.co.uk www.wickercoffins.co.uk
FST (Landscape) - NWP cane coffins.indd 1 28/08/2013 12:00

Manufacturers &
suppliers of
quality fittings & linings to the discerning Funeral Director
ordering from Allsops
online is so easy
Allsops trade-only website
offers the convenience of
easy online ordering and is
supported by our friendly
customer service team,
who are there to
receive your orders by
phone, fax, post, email or
via the website. Login and
discover the ease of online
ordering with Allsops.
See our website for more information
www.allsops.net
01903 213991
Do you want more incremental funerals
One year on from Avalon’s change of ownership
and new management team, we offer -
• Incremental funerals
• Improved pricing
• Payment within 14 days of receiving
your invoice with proof of death
• Dedicated Funeral Directors team
• No exclusivity requirements
To find out more, please speak
to our Funeral Directors team
on 0161 486 2025

28
COFFIN SPECIAL
Accessory Spotlight
DJ MacNeice & Company
Established in the early 1990’s, DJ
MacNeice & Company has forged a
reputation as a leading supplier and
manufacturer in the funeral business
in Ireland. DJ MacNeice management
and staff endeavour to provide a
deep knowledge of the funeral and
embalming trade. “We dedicate ourselves
to developing innovations that cater
to the unique requirements within the
funeral service sector. The company is
a one-stop shop, offering a full range of
quality products and services to funeral
homes, coffin makers and mortuary
technicians in Ireland and Britain. Our
customer service team will advise you on
all aspects of the funeral trade.”
Information: 00353 1882 8731,
sales@djmacneice.com or
www.djmacneice.com
Funeral Safe
Funeral Safe’s professionally designed multicomposite
shoulder protection system is a
discreet fitting beneath your blazer; nobody
will know that you are wearing it. The
protective pad stays in place with the aid of
braces with elastic loops to the underside
of the pad through which the elastic brace
passes. The benefit of this product means
no discomfort during the carry, eliminating
focal point pressure injuries and reducing
the likelihood of other associated manual
handling injuries. Hardy’s Funeral Service of
Durham stated the Pal Pad was “brilliant”.
They are in stock now.
Information: 07714337472 or
www.funeralsafe.com

First Call Stretcher MD
Now with a FREE body cover worth £62!
First Call Stretcher MD Standard Body Cover Features
The Multidirectional First Call Stretcher offers the ultimate
in flexibility and manoeuvrability in tight spaces. It also folds
in half for neat storage, comes complete with 2 stretcher
straps and convenient fold away wheels and legs.
Our standard body cover is
made from a wipe clean and fully
elasticated fabric for an easy to
use cover.
The Multidirectional Wheels
allow easy side-ways movement
when used in an upright
position.
All this for just £499 *
*includes VAT and UK mainland delivery
offer ends 30th May 2014
YEAR WARRANTY
Handling the future

30
FOCUS ON TROLLEYS & BIERS
Focus on:
Trolleys & Biers
Trolleys and biers are a necessity when transporting coffins or caskets, and here
LAUREN MORTON identifies the standout designs on offer in 2014
Auden Funeral Supplies
PFM Design Consultancy
AR Twigg & Son
funeral bier or trolley can be a funeral
A director’s best friend, making light work
of moving a coffin or casket during a funeral,
and with so many different styles and extras, it
can be difficult to decide which one fits your
needs best. However with current attention
focused on the nation’s obesity, the impact it
has had on the funeral industry has meant a
change of direction.This follows reports from
the Overseas Development Institute which
identified that 64 per cent of the UK adult
population is currently obese, meaning a body
mass index (BMI) of more than 25. Naturally,
as the nation’s weight increases, the typical bier
or trolley no longer does the job adequately.
Auden Funeral Supplies, which constantly
strives to offer its clients innovative solutions
to their funeral needs, has developed its
XL range of trolleys to cater to the growing
population. Increasing average weight is a
problem that Auden believes has had funeral
directors reaching more towards a larger,
sturdier trolley that they may not have
considered in the past.
The firm makes its XL trolleys to the
highest specifications, while still ensuring that
they are light and flexible enough for everyday
use.The company explains: “Future proof your
business by investing in a multilevel XL300
and by doing so you get all the additional
features as well as bariatric capability for the
future.” Every XL300 trolley that Auden
produces includes, multi-height functionality,
multi directional wheels available, roll-inroll-out
for use in tight space, extendable side
arms and up to 400kg load capacity.
AR Twigg & Son has continued to expand
its range during a highly productive first few
months of 2014. Building on the success of
its ‘Electro Hydraulic Embalming Trolley’,
introduced last year, the company has now
launched a ‘Manual Hydraulic’ version which
is capable of lifting 45 stones.
With the increasing sizes of caskets and
coffins, AR Twigg has introduced a new
heavy-duty version of its renowned ‘Standard
Lattice Bier’ which is capable of supporting 50
stones. The company says: “To meet similar
needs of crematoria, we have also added a
70 stones Cremator Trolley to our portfolio,
giving the industry a better choice of quality
heavy-duty trolleys at affordable prices. All
new products are made bespoke to individual
customer specifications and this service is
provided at no extra cost.”
Sticking to more traditional methods, PFM
Design Consultancy also creates bespoke biers
to meet the needs of funeral directors. Owner
Peter Moles explains: “All of my biers are built
to order and as I am a one man business with
engineering experience I am able to take on
custom designs for any problems you may have.”
Moles, along with his late wife, established
PFM Design Consultancy in 2010 having
retired the year before, though following an
inundation of enquiries he continues to offer
a variety of biers and a transport trolley to
funeral directors. Catering to the growing
number of woodland burials, Moles adds:
“They are built to order and offer a choice of
two large and two small or four large roller
bearing wheels. Fancy gloss back powdercoated
scroll and steel work, plus a choice of
oak, beech or sappele wooden sub frame and
stretcher. Side rails, roller beds and hydraulic
disc brakes can also be added at extra cost.”
Supplier Listing:
Auden: 01924 0402080 or www.audenfs.com
AR Twigg: 0113 256 1194, sales@artwigg.co.uk
or www.artwigg.co.uk
PFM Design Consultancy: 01476 530632/
07711181934 peter.moles@btinternet.com or
peter.moles@classicalbiers.co.uk

AR
Introducing Two New Twigg Products For Spring!
The new 50 Stone Heavy Duty Standard Lattice made bespoke to order.
The new Manual Hydraulic Embalming Trolley.
See website for full product range. Call for latest brochure.
A R Twigg & Son - Better Built at Affordable Prices
0113 256 1194 www.artwigg.co.uk sales@artwigg.co.uk
Quality Repairs, Servicing, Sales and Projects
• Full servicing and repairs
• Any make or type of Stretcher
• All makes and types of Trolleys
• LOLER safety inspections
• Fully guaranteed work
• Fully insured and trained staff
• Genuine manufacturers’ spares
• Our team has over 100 years
combined repair experience
FST-2-TW-ET+SL.indd 1 25/03/2014 16:25:34
J&J Maintenance - Often imitated – Never bettered!
07876 233 363 www.jjmaintenance.co.uk sales@jjmaintenance.co.uk

32
FOCUS ON TROLLEYS & BIERS
“The best thing I have ever bought.”
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excellent. I have recently purchase another Roland
and I would not consider another brand”
NEW
Tim Purves, Director. William Purves Funeral Directors, Edinburgh.
Roland EGX-30A
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Authorised Dealer

AMERICAN MILITARY FUNERALS 33
A military chaplain seen leading honor guards derived
from the United States Marine Corps as they carry the
casket of General Robert H. Barrow to the place of burial.
The Final
Military funerals have
always offered pomp
and circumstance - it’s
partly why police and fire
departments developed a
similar sense of spectacle
in remembrance.
Here, MICHAEL
NORTHCOTT examines
the nuances of the US
military’s approach
Salute
It is reasonably common knowledge that bosses take the funerals put on for fallen
the US takes the armed forces and their servicemen and women very seriously, too.
people very seriously. Spending on military In 2000, Section 578 of Public Law 106-65
functions is more than any other single of the National Defense Authorization Act,
portion of the federal budget. In 2013, the decreed that if the family of an eligible
government spent $682 billion on it, which veteran of the US Armed Forces requests
was 4.4 per cent of the country’s GDP, and the ‘rendering of honours in a military
39 per cent of the global total that countries funeral’, then an ‘honor guard’ detail of at
spent on on their armed forces.
least two serving members of the military
It stands to reason, then, that military must be in attendance at the ceremony.

34
AMERICAN MILITARY FUNERALS
Escort platoons marching during the military funeral of Admiral
Thomas Hinman Moorer in Arlington National Cemetery, 2004.
At the very least, the ceremony must
include the American tradition of the folding
of the national flag to be presented to the
family of the deceased, and also a bugler
(or sound sytem) must play Taps, the US
military’s traditional bugled funereal tune.
Interestingly, the military sometimes has
to call on the services of the Reserve or
National Guard, just to source a bugler,
as there are so few people good enough at
playing the instrument throughout the US.
What makes a
veteran eligible
According to official guidance from the
US Department of Defense (or defence,
to us British):
• Personnel who are on active duty or
‘Selected Reserve’ throughout the Armed
Forces
• Those who were formally on active duty
but have been honourably discharged
through retirement etc.
• Enlisted personnel (below the rank
of commission offi cer, generally people
performing roles that match their own
skills/occupation)
• Anyone who was discharged from
the Armed Forces because of ‘disability
incurred or aggravated’, which is generally
taken to mean injured or put out of action
by injury.
The Old Guard transports the flag-draped casket of the second Sergeant Major of the Army
George W. Dunaway who was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

36
AMERICAN MILITARY FUNERALS
“The fl ag is folded in a special folding ceremony by the six honour guards who
carried the casket. It always fi nishes with the stars point up, sometimes shells are
placed in the folds of the fl ag”
Members of the 86th Airlift Wing honor
guard conduct a flag-folding ceremony
at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 2009.
The types of
ceremony
Standard Honor: A military chaplain for the
family, the coffin or casket draped with the
national flag, sometimes a flyover of fighter
jets in the ‘Missing Man Formation’, a rifle
party tasked with firing a three-volley salute.
Full Honor: All the standard honours are
included, and in addition a riderless horse
follows the caissons and limbers in the
procession - this one is for commanding
officers. For general officers, depending on
the number of stars they have to their rank,
there are varying numbers of guns from 11 to
17 gun salute. Furthermore, a military band
will play.
Armed Forces military funeral: This is a
special form of the military funeral reserved
solely for the President of the United States
(as commander-in-chief of the Armed
Forces), the Secretary of State for Defense,
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and
any officers who had been granted ‘multipleservice
command’. Presidents are honoured
with a 21-gun salute using artillery.
In most cases, the flag is folded in
a special folding ceremony by the six
honour guards who carried the casket. It
always finishes with the stars pointing up,
sometimes shells are placed in the folds
of the flag, and when the ceremony is
complete, it is presented to the family of the
deceased. Whoever is doing the presenting
of the flag utters the following words:
“On behalf of the President of the United
States, the United States (Army, Marine
Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard ),
and a grateful nation, please accept this fl ag
as a symbol of our appreciation for your
loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”
There’s no doubt that the wars of the
last 15 years have provided impetus to
honour veterans properly, and policies such
as standardising the wording (as above),
providing a free-phone number for families to
request military honours, and the funding to
perform the honours, are a way of celebrating
the bravery of the Armed Forces as well as
giving the deceased a dignified send-off.
If there’s one thing the Americans do well,
it is grandeur, and no less so than in these
gravitas-laden events.

38
Q&A
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40
COMPANY PROFILE
Larger
than Life
BATESVILLE CASKET COMPANY, manufacturer of burial caskets, tells FST
how it can benefit funeral directors here in the UK
Tell us about Batesville
Casket Company
Batesville Casket Company is a manufacturer
of burial caskets, founded at the turn of the
20 th century in the Midwest of the United
States in an area where high-quality hardwoods
were plentiful. The business originally started
manufacturing coffins, but transitioned to
manufacturing wood caskets as this larger,
more ornate product category became the
more dominate choice of consumers in
North America. Batesville Coffin Company,
as it was known then, was purchased by the
Hillenbrand family in 1906. The Hillenbrand
family founded Hillenbrand Industries whose
subsidiaries also included a world-renowned
hospital bed and equipment manufacturer,
Hill-Rom. Through extensive investments
in world class manufacturing facilities and
expansion of an advanced distribution system,
the Hillenbrands grew Batesville throughout
the 20th Century into the largest casket
company in the world. Batesville Casket UK
is the British subsidiary of Batesville and is
located within the small Derbyshire market
town of Castle Donington. With the help
of our UK distribution partner, we have
built long-term relationships with funeral
directors, funeral associations and many funeral
professionals throughout the United Kingdom,
the Republic of Ireland and Europe.
Tell us about your caskets
Superior craftsmanship, the highest quality
materials and constant innovation have
become the hallmarks of the Batesville brand.
Batesville offers two types of premium caskets:
first, hardwood caskets include a variety
of species: mahogany, cherry, maple, oak,
poplar, and pine, all sourced in the United
States. These caskets are the choice of families
who appreciate and cherish the qualities of
natural wood. The same warmth, beauty and
personality it brings to fine furniture makes it
ideally suitable for the construction of quality
caskets. Second, metal caskets include those
made from bronze, copper, stainless, and
carbon steel. These caskets are known for their
unique finishes. Bronze and copper are among
the most durable and beautiful of metals; both
are naturally non-rusting. Stainless and carbon
steel caskets come in a variety of grades, gauges,
styles, and finishes.
Why should a funeral
director choose you
when helping families
with their needs
When a loved one dies, families must choose
an appropriate container to hold that loved
one before, during and after the funeral. While
many UK families have traditionally chosen
coffins for this purpose, another unique option
is a Batesville casket. Different from traditional
coffins, caskets are larger, more substantial
vessels made from the finest materials with
unique features to help memorialise the lives
of loved ones. For over 100 years, Batesville
has manufactured some of the finest caskets
available anywhere in the world. Batesville
has always taken immense pride in fulfilling
the needs of funeral directors as they serve
families in their hour of greatest need, and we
never forget that each of our products plays an
important role in representing a precious life of
a loved one. Those funeral homes who wish to
offer their families the very best and include a
full range of options should consider Batesville.
We take great care in the manufacturing of
each and every casket and are committed to
ensuring those products are provided to the
family with the highest standards of quality
and service. To fulfil that commitment,
Batesville exclusively sells and distributes its
caskets through a carefully chosen network
– professional funeral directors. Funeral
directors have been selected for their ability
to provide the right product for each family’s
particular situation and explain our exclusive
features. Funeral directors have enduring
commitments to serving their communities
and a comprehensive understanding of serving
families’ needs.
You offer innovative
merchandising solutions
and implementation
strategies, how does this
benefit funeral directors
With a focus on meeting everyday business
challenges, Batesville draws upon its 100
years of experience with the funeral process
to provide solutions that not only include the
highest quality products, but also the tools
needed to clearly convey the value of the
products and services funeral directors provide.
By taking the time to understand the specific
needs of each business we serve, Batesville
can help funeral directors meet the family’s
expectations from the arrangement conference,
to the product selection process, to the funeral
service. We do this by providing funeral
directors with the right product assortment
and point-of-sale materials to ensure sufficient
choices and communicate important features
to help families express their love, devotion,
values, and beliefs in ways to honour the lives
of loved ones.
Information: 01332 856372 or
www.batesville.co.uk

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42
ALEX JAMES
Out With
The Old –
In With The New
Celebrating the
life of a loved one
is a commendable
approach, but, says
ALEX JAMES, there is
no need to hop on the
bandwagon if clients
would prefer a more
solemn affair
Whilst working in a palliative care
setting as a family support, my
role was to support families facing death
of a loved one, and in particular children
facing the death of a parent. The most
beneficial relationships I formed with
people were those that developed over a
period of up to two years, and after death,
until the remaining family were able to
work towards manageability themselves.
During the shared journeys I would
eventually talk to the dying about their
ending. This included thoughts feelings,
and hopes about the future – a future in
which they would not be present.
Much of my work centred around how I
might capture the essence of an individual
so that their family might feel a bond to
them even after death, and so that the
children might have a way of knowing
them, to grow up feeling some kind of
transcendental link to their deceased parent.
By involving the children in some of
the pre-bereavement journey, they would
have a base of understanding for when
the inevitable happened, and a place
from which to continue with their life.
We would talk about many things whilst
sitting together; early on in kitchens over
cups of tea; in my offi ce at work; later at
bedsides, whilst the children drew pictures
and wrote stories. There were tears and
laughter too. I felt a deep sense of privilege
for being trusted and allowed to share
those precious times with each families.
I’m telling you this because I want
you to understand my work and my
relationship with my clients. Talking
about the future became easier as our
relationships developed, and talking
about final arrangements also came to feel
comfortable as a topic, sad though it was
for all of us. I remember once sitting in
a client’s garden, a young mum with two
small children. It was a beautiful sunny
afternoon and as her husband made tea
and the children helped to prepare a tray
of cakes, we looked at a brochure together:
a collection of coffi ns. The lady had asked
me to bring it with me so that hey might
choose hers together.
“Pink is your colour,” her husband
chuckled as he spotted the bright fuchsia
pink casket on the page before us. “Oh my

ALEX JAMES 43
God this is unreal...tea Alex” As we sat
in the sunshine, the children on their
climbing frame, bees buzzing around us
and the smell of freshly cut grass in the
air, it didn’t seem possible that such an
ordinary afternoon could facilitate such an
extraordinary conversation. Things seemed
so normal and yet there we were planning
her funeral together. The pink coffin was
something she connected with - “you
should all wear something pink,” she said,
“and afterwards have pink champagne or
something - make it a celebration of my
life, not a sombre sad event. What music
should I have Any ideas Alex” She spoke
with an ease that might have been present
if she were planning her 40 th birthday, not
her final farewell.
Another client, Tim, was 30, he had four
children, and I grew to know the family
well over the last year of his life. One
morning shortly before he died he asked
me whether I thought it was mean that he
didn’t like the idea of everyone going down
the pub after his funeral without him. He
felt angry that life was cheating him out of
what he perceived would be his. “I want
my parents to arrange my funeral,” he
said, “and I don’t know about the children
attending - they’re very young - but I’ll
leave that to Helen. I just want it to be a
quiet, sad affair with space for Helen and
my parents to say whatever they want.
Actually I don’t even mind if its only them
who attend. Does this sound selfish Alex”
I can honestly say that most of my clients
have been like Tim, but somehow they or
their families got caught up in the new
‘celebration of life’ services that seemed to
be the way.
It is a growing phenomenon that
families want to ‘keep things light’, apply
a little humour, and make reference to
how the deceased ‘wouldn’t have wanted
a really sad affair’. It is as though we have
recognised man’s failure to overcome
mortality and decided: ‘If we can’t control
it, let’s make a party out of it. Let’s
provide a fun day of commemoration
with bands and banners, and caskets with
“I didn’t seem possible that such an ordinary
afternoon could facilitate such an extraordinary
conversation. Things seemed so normal and yet there
we were planning her funeral together.”
wonderfully painted murals, and lanterns
and balloons and pink champagne. Let’s
even write our own epitaphs so as to make
the congregation laugh rather than cry.
Let’s put the fun into funerals - out with
the black car and traditional sadness, and
in with the smiles.’
But stop for a moment. Whilst I
believe we should have choices (and of
course there’s nothing wrong with a more
personal final goodbye), I also believe that
most people aren’t too enthusiastic about
throwing parties or tossing tradition out
of the window. Many still want to feel safe
in the traditional oak, carried by the men
in black. They want to know their loved
ones are sad to see them go.
My view, therefore, is we shouldn’t race
towards change too quickly. There’s room
for everything, and there is no need to
embrace the carnivalesque when it comes
to funerals - not if clients would prefer
something more solemn. We should
facilitate what individuals want and guide
them through it, give them time, and
above all tell them that there is nothing
uptight about opting out of the jazz and
humour. Death is sad, after all.

SALLY WALTON 45
Getting creative
with coffins
The general public are getting savvier about death and funerals, and the sheer
amount of choice is helping to make the conversation more accessible and less
frightening. We need not be as much a ‘hideaway’ profession as in the past
How much choice can you give to
families Nowadays there seems to be
an inordinate amount of choice in transport,
floral tributes and of course, coffins. The
market is awash with new innovations all the
time, and new ranges and variations arrive in
the pipeline constantly. From cardboard and
animal shapes, to banana leaf and sea grass.
Even if you have a set catalogue at your
premises, how can each business expect to
show everything that is available At our
small business, we hold catalogues and
can usually offer whatever the customer
demands, but even we wouldn’t have all
that on show at once. I think some families
do not wish to have too much choice, as it
makes it harder to reach a final decision.
I heard the other day that a family arrived
at a funeral home and asked about coffin
choices because they had a particular one in
mind, and the funeral arranger told them
that the company did not offer it. How
is that possible in this day and age The
internet or even a phone call to a well-known
manufacturer could have given them a price
and delivery time, and they could have given
the family exactly what was asked for. We
all know the customer is right and in the
funeral profession we also know that the
family have to make their own choices to
help them in the future with their memories
of the funeral, and service we give them.
We sell a few creatively designed coffins
and one in particular sticks in my mind. It
was a mother’s choice for her son and he had
been a James Bond fan. We told the coffin
company that he liked the Aston Martin
car and the 007 logo with the gun, and
after a few design tweaks and changes it was
perfect. In fact, I hadn’t realised that after the
initial design had arrived, which had a blue
background, our company boss had been
playing on his computer with the colour. He
had printed off another one, which I thought
had come from the coffin company. Well, of
course, I showed this to the family, they said
it was perfect and then I realised my mistake,
hoping that it was possible to match it. We
did manage to match it, and the boy’s mother
was so impressed that she also ordered a
Cremated Remains Casket to match.
I am currently just ordering one with palm
trees on it for another family and have also
tweaked the design, adding extra palm trees.
His wife had a white one with pink daisies.
Each family must be given the chance to make
their choices, and we must strive to offer these
choices. Coffin manufacturers these days can
produce them in the shape of a skate board,
an aeroplane, a train or even an elephant.
How do you display your coffins Do
you just have a book with pictures, or do
you have actual coffins in a display area, or
even miniature size replicas The picture
above is a coffin manufacturer in Kenya,
but the premises are not quite up to our UK
standards. I don’t think our workers would
be happy out of doors in the public eye! We
are still very much a hide-away profession
in this country. Things are changing slowly
and members of the public are beginning
to ask questions and want to know what
the process of dying involves. Choice in
everything including the appearance of the
coffin, will help to dismantle that taboo.
Sally Walton is national
president of the British
Institute of Funeral
Directors (BIFD). For
further information about
the organisation, please
visit www.bifd.org.uk

46
OBITUARIES
Bob Crow
Image: Jarvin Jarle Vines
Tony Benn
Image: Isujosh
Clarissa Dickson
Image: Mark Robinson
11 March
Bob Crow (aged 52)
Born in east London, Bob Crow became
interested in trade unionism in 1977 after
he joined London Transport. He became
a local trade union representative in 1983
and then not long after the national officer
for trackworks in the National Union
of Railwaymen. Crow quickly became a
powerful voice in the then 80,000 strong
union, and though he took a strong stance
on disputes, often reached agreements
before a walk out. Crow was a character
rarely disliked and was always happy to
negotiate but the trade unionist had his
limits and would occasionally struggle to
contain himself. Keen on defending the
rights of low paid workers, Crow was met
with opposition voices who asked why they
should concern themselves with unreliable
workers. Nonetheless he continued to fight
for them. As the leader of the RMT, he was
not unfamiliar with opposition throughout
his career, often bearing the brunt of names
such as ‘the most hated man in Britain’
and even physical attacks. He was a regular
on BBC Question Time, and many will
know Crow from this past February when
ticket offices were closed across the London
Underground, leaving the Underground
network in chaos for two days. A second
strike was called off after Transport for
London agreed to talks. Crow died of a
heart attack just a couple of weeks later.
14 March
Tony Benn (aged 88)
Tony Benn was a key figure in left-wing
politics for more than 50 years, following
in his father William Wedgewood Benn’s
Rest in peace
A tribute to some well-known individuals who have
sadly passed away during the last month
footsteps. Tony studied philosophy, politics
and economics at New College, Oxford
before serving in the RAF during the
Second World War and then working as
BBC radio producer upon his return. Benn
entered parliament through a by-election
for Bristol South East in 1950 and was
a conventional centre-right backbencher
until the death of his eldest brother meant
that he would become Lord Stansgate,
meaning that he had to give up his seat
in the House of Commons. Benn fought
for a bill which would allow people to
renounce hereditary titles, although the
Lords voted against, leading Benn to
develop a reputation as an advocate of
constitutional reform. Following his father’s
death and his switch of support from
Gaitskell to Wilson in 1959, Benn was able
to renounce his title with support from
the Conservative government, winning a
by-election he returned to the Commons.
Later, Benn was appointed postmaster
general, a move which saw him try, and
fail, to have the Queen’s head removed
from stamps. Benn lived a very varied
political career, championing a referendum
on Britain’s membership of the European
Economic Community and standing
against Denis Healey for deputy leadership
in 1981. He retired in 2001 famously
claiming that he wanted “to devote more
time to politics”, and was a well known
supporter of major anti-war protests.
15 March
Clarissa Dickson Wright
(aged 66)
Clarissa Dickson Wright is best known
as one of the Two Fat Ladies, presenting
along with Jennifer Paterson between
1996 and 1999. The cooking show, which
highlighted the duo’s love of rich food,
saw them travel around in a motorcycle
and sidecar, a far cry from her days at
University College London where she
studied law. Having been raised as a
Roman Catholic throughout her life,
Dickson Wright was, at the time, the
youngest woman to be called to the bar
at the age of just 21, but her life growing
up was not easy and she had described her
childhood as an unhappy one. Later in life
she battled with alcoholism after the death
of her mother in 1975, ending her career
as a lawyer before reinventing herself
as a cook at Books for Cooks in central
London. The Cooks Bookshop was her
next venture after Books for Cooks came
to an end, still delving into the television
world with Clarissa and the Countryman
between 2000 and 2003; however she
declared herself bankrupt in 2004.
Dickson Wright wrote her autobiography

OBITUARIES 47
L’Wren Scott
Image: Solmaz A
James Rebhorn
Image: David Skankbone
Patrice Wymore
in 2007 entitled Spilling the Beans and
throughout her career also produced
several books including Game Cookbook
in 2004 and A Sunday Roast in 2002.
17 March
L’Wren Scott (aged 49)
Fashion designer and other half to rocker
Mick Jagger, L’Wren Scott was an influential
force in the high fashion industry.
Throughout her career, the former model
joined forces with top brands, most recently
Banana Republic who she worked with to
make her ranges more affordable to the
masses, pulling away from her more couture
pieces which would sell for thousands.
Scott also recently finished a collaboration
with make-up artist Bobbi Brown, with
the pair creating a cosmetics range entitled
Bobbi Brown X L’Wren Scott including
mascara and an award winning gel eyeliner.
The Utah born stylist and designer saw
her creations adorn the likes of Nicole
Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker and Angelina
Jolie since the birth of her company
in 2006. However, she was reportedly
struggling under a pile of debt at the time
of her death, an issue that has been at the
centre of speculations as being the reason
behind her suicide at just 49 years old.
21 March
James Rebhorn (Aged 65)
Actor James Rebhorn was known for roles
in films and television, in a career spanning
more than 50 years, starring in films such as
Independence Day in 1996, The Talented
Mr Ripley in 1999 and Meet the Parents
in 2000. He was well known on the small
screen as well, having appeared in Boston
Legal, The Practice, The Good Wife,
Law and Order and Seinfeld throughout
his career. Originally starting out as a
theatre actor, gaining experience following
his graduation from the University of
Springfield where he studied political
science, Rebhorn went on to study acting
at Columbia University. He appeared in
daytime soaps including The Doctors,
Guiding Light and As the World Turns
but it wasn’t until the 80’s that Rebhorn
became a well-known name. In 1983 he
starred in Silkwood with Meryl Streep and
in 1991 he was in drama Regarding Henry
with Harrison Ford. Other notable works
include Lorenzo’s Oil in 1992 and in the
same year, Scent of a Woman, which went
on to win awards at the Oscars. The Game
in 1997 and Far From Heaven in 2002
were also films he became known for and
most recently starred as the father of Claire
Danes character, Carrie Mathison in the hit
American series Homeland. He passed away
after finally losing a long battle with skin
cancer.
22 March
Patrice Wymore (aged 87)
Patrice Wymore was a dancer, singer and
actor, however is best known as the third
wife to Hollywood actor Errol Flynn.
The pair starred in Rocky Mountain
together in 1950 and at the time Wymore
was 23 and Flynn was 41 years old. She
appeared in musicals such as Hold it!
in 1948 and Tea for Two in 1950, this
was followed by The Big Trees and She’s
Working Her Way Through College in
1952. Typecast as the girl next door and
given supporting roles, Wymore starred
in She’s Back on Broadway the following
year but went into what is described as
‘semi-retirement’ in which she spent several
years with a close eye on husband Flynn
who, at the time had a drug and alcohol
addiction. Following her husband’s death
at just the age of 50, Wymore had a small
role in Ocean’s Eleven in 1960 before
retiring to a 2,000 acre ranch in Jamaica
that had been left to her by Flynn.
30 March
Kate O’Mara (aged 74)
Best known for her role as Joan Collins’s
sister on Dynasty, Kate O’Mara comes
from a family committed to showbiz as
five generations of her family have been
involved in the business either as actors or
as managers. Her career took many forms,
in both theatre, television and film and, as a
dedicated Shakespearean, gave performances
in plays such as A Midsummer Night’s
Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.
O’Mara also took on other major
performances such as Mrs Cheveley in
Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband however,
though she built a promising stage career
she was more known by her television roles
including The Brothers in 1975, Howards’
Way in 1989 and Crossroads in 2003. Her
film career wasn’t as prominent as her stage
or television presence, her debut was in
1956 in Vernon Sewell’s Home and Away
and she went on to appear in films such
as The Horror of Frankenstein and The
Tamarind Seed in the seventies. Throughout
her career she wrote two novels, Game
Plan: A Woman’s Survival Kit in 1990
and Vamp Until Ready in 2003. In 2008
O’Mara enjoyed success in a Lunch with
Marlene at the New End in Hampstead
before starring in ITV’s Benidorm, in 2012.
She passed away following a short illness.

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50
YOUR STORY
Your Story
JOANNE HUTSBY, The Eastwood Funeral Partnership, Nottingham
Tell us about The Eastwood
Funeral Partnership
We’re based on the Nottinghamshire/
Derbyshire border and have four funeral
homes at Eastwood, Kimberley, Heanor
and Stapleford – all within a few miles
of each other. In total there are 15 of us,
including the four partners, myself and
my parents Barry and Elaine Hutsby, and
Anthony Topley, whose father-in-law Jack
Gillott founded Gillotts Funeral Service,
our Heanor funeral home. My sister Alison
also works in the business. We’ve embraced
a lot of the options to personalise a funeral
that have become available in the last few
years. In the past month we’ve used a Morris
Minor hearse, a vintage ambulance and also
transported a coffin to the crematorium
on a tractor trailer. We have quite a large
coffin range – all of our veneered and solid
coffins come from Steve Soult, whose factory
is only eight miles away, so we can offer a
wide range of options which are produced
to order. We have a great relationship with
the team there, and we enjoy giving them
a challenge when a client is looking for
something a bit different.
Why did you decide to
become a funeral director
Well I tried not to! I went off to university
with no intention of becoming involved with
the business, but towards the end of my time
there I realised that what was happening
back at home was more interesting and
relevant to me than what was on offer in a
lot of the so-called graduate professions. So
within weeks of graduating, I started work
at our Stapleford funeral home. I’d already
spent time in the summer holidays working
in the business, either in the office or washing
cars and fitting coffins, so I was already fairly
familiar with what the job entailed.
What do you personally
do for each funeral
Our ethos is to try and ensure that the same
person follows a funeral through from start
to finish, so when I arrange a funeral with a
family, I try and ensure that I’m their point
of contact throughout the proceedings and
I’m there on the day to make sure everything
goes smoothly.
In addition to being a funeral director, one
of my many roles is head of logistics, so my
first job of the day is to plan what everyone is
doing that day to make sure everything and
everyone is where they need to be at the right
time. So while the majority of the funerals we
conduct are handled by my colleagues, I have
the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve helped to
ensure that each one goes smoothly.
How do you feel
your 24-hour service
benefits families
It is vital to families who lose someone at
home and I’m always amazed when people
– even professionals we work with such as
doctors and ministers – say that they’ll ‘leave
a message on the answerphone’. We’ve never
had an answerphone! As a fairly small firm
our response time is very good – we aim to
get to the house within an hour of the family
contacting us and it’s often quicker than
that. Sometimes it’s not the actual transfer of
the deceased that’s important to the family,
but the reassurance that comes from having
someone arrive who can explain their next
steps and give them some basic information
and guidance. We also go to great lengths to
ensure that our on-call staff has information
to hand about all of the funerals we are
dealing with, so that clients or members
of the public who have a query can get an
answer whenever they ring us.
What advice would you
give to someone entering
the funeral profession
Try not to make assumptions about people
or circumstances, because you’ll probably be
wrong. This job teaches you a lot about the
human race and how differently each of us
reacts to stressful situations. You need to give
yourself time to learn to read people - I’ve
been doing this job for nearly 20 years and
I’m still learning.
Do you have any plans to
expand in the future
We have plans in the pipeline for an
additional funeral home and I’m looking
forward to the challenges and opportunities
that will bring.
If you would like to appear on this page, please send an email to Lauren Morton at laurenmorton@funeralservicetimes.co.uk

Remembering
a baby
Every year in the UK one in four parents will
lose their baby during pregnancy or birth.
Tommy’s exists to help bereaved parents and to give them hope for the future.
We fund medical research into the causes and prevention of miscarriage,
premature birth and stillbirth.
Our goal is to halve the number of babies who are lost during pregnancy
or birth by 2030.
We are here for mums and dads at every stage of their journey.
From bereavement counselling or a friendly chat, to fundraising support or
discussing our research.
‘The only thing that kept me going in the early days
was knowing that I could talk to Tommy’s and that I
was doing something positive in my babies’ memory.’
‘Knowing that my baby didn’t die in vain and that
I was helping to fund research to help prevent this
happening to others gave me great comfort.’
Please let any parents visiting you
know that Tommy’s is here to help.
They can visit our website
www.tommys.org/inmemory
or call Emma on 0800 0147 800
w: tommys.org/inmemory
e: jbrewin@tommys.org
t: 020 7398 3450
Registered charity number 1060508 and SCO39280